William Ellis and his daughter Elizabeth, c.1745 (oil on canvas)

William Ellis (1707-71) and his daughter Elizabeth (1740-95); Elizabeth Ellis is about five years old in this picture. She wears a low-cut dress with a pointed waist, which was fashionable for both girls and women at the time. William Ellis was a London surgeon. Unfortunately, his wife had died soon after Elizabeth's birth. William Ellis's affection for his daughter is suggested by the way he sits with her close to him. The picture has a landscape setting, which was popular for portraits at this time. It gave an impression of informality but also suggested that the family was wealthy enough to own a lot of land. Francis Hayman was a London painter;